I’m afraid this movie is going to suck. I have no desire whatsoever to see anyone, anywhere, ever play Han Solo but Harrison Ford. It’s not like James Bond; Solo IS Ford. There is no Han Solo without him, only an impostor. Indiana Jones I might be a little more open to re-casting, maybe, but not this.
So the movie is DOA for me for that reason alone. Add the fact that from everything I’m hearing it seems like just another fan service mash-up like Rogue One that, again like Rogue One, tells a pointless story which over-explains the background of the original film, and it just holds no interest for me whatsoever. I don’t want to know Han’s backstory dammit! Some things are better left to the imagination.
Disney is starting to worry me. I was initially excited at the prospects of expanding Star Wars with a constant stream of new movies, but they just keep milking the same cows over and over again. The possibilities for this universe are so vast that it’s incredibly disappointing they can’t seem to do anything more original with it.
Han Solo is a character. I personally have been wanting this particular story for nearly 40 years. I’m not alone. That’s why 3 of the first 4 spin-off novels were of Han Solo. That’s why there was another 3 written later that explored his origins. So, while I think Harrison is a fine actor, for me the character is far more than his portrayal. And, just as Indiana Jones was played by 5 different actors, I have no problem with Han being played by another (he has the looks, so if he can bring the feeling to it, he works). And setting it 10 years before ANH gives them some nice leeway that he doesn’t have to be the exact same character we saw in ANH. And considering that I dislike The Force Awakens and I loved Rogue One, I am pretty excited about this one and happy with the change in directors. I happen to love Ron Howard’s work (and his brother’s) and think he is a pretty damn fine director. I don’t consider these project as fan service or mash-ups. TFA was more that than Rogue One and this movie appears to be giving life to an period in Han’s history that has not been well covered before. A.C. Crispin did not have much of Lando in her books and Daley didn’t know he existed. We might get to see Han win the Falcon, but I am not expecting that to be pivotal to the plot. None of this is any guarantee that the film will either be a success or failure (well, it is pretty certain to be a box office success but I was talking about a success with old-school fans).